This is like the new Doom, fast, brutal, fun! But it offers so much more: Beautiful colourful levels, procedurally generated, about 70 weapons, fully customizable, many interesting skills (also upgradable), and huge replay value. The more difficult you set the game, the better the rewards. On easy you can find everything, but on super hard (or if you want it even harder) you find the same stuff but better (higher levels gear). Your character, your money, your skills, your weapons, everything is saved so when you start new you can use everything you've earned in the game for a new playthrough (there is also an option to really start new, but who would want that). That is nice for newbies, they can up the challenge to a higher difficulty setting without getting frustrated too quickly. And for veterans, there is still enough challenge on the highest difficulties. So this game is a perfect example how to translate old school shooters with modern mechanics. Doom was great, but this is so much better!
Almost everything has been written here, and there is nothing more to add. Nice graphics, many useful updates (the auto map is the best), you can finally use a mouse OR keyboard shortcuts, group inventory management, auto/quick/normal save functions... This is a blast. I'm currently playing part 3, and gog galaxy says I'm playing about 80 hours now. That means the game is easier than back in the days. On my CPC464 I wasted 80 hours alone for the first three dungeons. Oh thank you auto map, I love you!!
My second playthrough after finishing it a few years ago, but this time I quit half way through. Keeping it short, the combat is fun when it works. Stealth is highly encouraged, and it's very well made. Until it isn't. There are enemies that get alarmed for no reason, or they spot you through walls. But most of the time sneaking around with a silenced pistol picking out the enemy one by one is pure fun. My huge problem with this game is how unbelievably bad some design decisions are. For example, you loose armour when hitting something while driving. These vests are expensive, and you spent a looooot of time driving around because there are no (!) quick travel options. The car's handling is interesting, you can feel their weight, but that also makes handling at high speeds tricky. And since there is no fast travel you will drive fast, reaching your destination without much armour. By the way, for a game with no quick travel options this game loves to send you on your way for huge distances. It's fun for the first hours, but then it's a chore. I start asking myself if this optional mission is worth the trouble (looking at you Irish guy with your "get me three cars from the farthest places possible"). God, I want to like this game, there is much entertainment here. But it's the little things that constantly piss me off. I have to steal a truck. Have to get out for a second, and the game instantly forgets to tell me where I have to drive. Well, maybe it shows me on the map again in one minute, maybe not. Sucks to be me. Installing switchboards in the world: You need three boards you will find lying around in the world. It's a fetch quest that gets rewarded with a mini game every time you have to install them. Sometimes the police is dumb and will look the other way although they are looking for you. Next time they will chase you to the end of the world without even giving you a chance to escape. This game is a mess, sometimes beautiful, but often not.
With the community patch you get a really big world, with treasure and secrets around every corner. It never gets boring. Best of all: There is a map, but with no markers where to find your target. If someone tells you the person you are trying to find is about 5 miles north-east near a tower, then you have to get your compass out and find it on your own. Awesome! I played Skyrim before this, and Gothic 3 is much more immersive. And for me clearly the better role-playing game. If you like being taken by the hand to find everything you need, play Skyrim. If you want to be completely on your own, play Gothic.
